New material from the upcoming Beatnuts + Alkaholiks collaborative album, Liknuts, with “Bang”.

The most anticipated track from Xzibit’s Napalm gets leaked.

Awesome. Directed by James Wade. Filmed at Real Results Gym in Las Vegas.

Daaam! New video of the title track off of J-Ro’s upcomming EP Pay The Price. Directed by I Suppose. Nice.

Before King Tee took The Alkaholiks under his wing, they were known as E.S.P., which stood for Educated Street Poets. This was around 1991 or so. Presenting another one from the HHS cassette archive, we present you the Liks original E.S.P. demo tape, which would eventually lead to “I Got It Bad Ya’ll”. The rest is history…..

The Alkaholiks “E.S.P.” Demo Tape

Control Freek has Tash up to his same old tricks.  He’s still the wise cracking emcee with a pungent sense for weed and alcohol.  The album starts with “The Book Chapter 1” which is a reintroduction of sorts to the life and times of Rico Smith.  Did you know his mom worked for Al Greene?  Neither did we.  Not to abandon his roots, i.e. the West Coast or the Likwit Family, Tash enlists E-Swift for “Go West”.  Producer Josh G’s synth trenched production is fitting for the Liks.  Other notable guest appearances are Del’s on “Get It” and B-Real’s ode to the sticky icky on “How Hi Can U Get”.  Newcomer J Beam out does himself on the latter, with bass that would make DJ Magic Mike’s speakers pop.  J Beam’s production is dripping in west coast vibe, as Tash rips “Pull It Outcha Pocket” as well as the Alkoholik anthem “We Do This” assisted by King T, Knoc’Turnal (where the hell has he been?) and even J Beam himself on the mic.

“A Penny for Your Thoughts”, produced by Kurupt collaborator J Wells, is Tash at his best; something to ride to, while still saying something. Samuel Christian does his best Pharrell impression for the hook, which we could have done without.  “Closer” is another stand out joint produced by Emmaculate (same guy who worked with Juice?) lifting an interpretation of Whodini’s “Friends” for the Chorus.  What would a Tash album be without a call for some weed from the President?  Clinton gave Rico a call on “Rap Life” this time President Obama gives him a shout for the good green. Results? Hilarious.

The album is not without its faults “Wet Paint” enlisted the tired flow of Kokane over a lackluster E-Swift beat, while the sad attempt at southern bounce “Push the Button” missed the mark after a few listens.  The main issue with the album is the subject matter and lackluster production.  Though there is some shining moments the album fell short of expectations.  21 and Over, Coast II Coast, and Rap Life set such a high standard for non-gangsta west coast hip-hop in the mid-90’s, it’s going to be hard to top.  Control Freek won’t garner a new fan base, however nor will it turn off long time fans.  Let’s just hope this isn’t the last we hear from Tash or the Alkaholiks. - DG

What’s up fellas, “Firewater” is about to drop….how y’all feeling?

E-Swift:  It’s been a minute since our last album so I’m feeling really great to be back out there and sharing it with the world.  Letting everybody know what we have been doing, so it feels really good.  I’m really confident about it; “Firewater” is a great album.

Tash:  What up with it man, what’s popping?

Before we jump into all that, you guys are called the Alkaholiks….so if we saw you guys at the bar….what would you be drinking on?

E-Swift:  If you saw me at the bar I would be drinking some chilled Petrone shots nowadays.  I’m not really into the heavy dark liquor like I was back in the day; I’m not a huge beer fan any more.  Petrone all night man.

Tash:  Aah man, my drink of choice has got to be good ole’ Hennessey, I’m getting old now so you know that’s my preference.

It’s been a while since we have heard from you guys….what’s been going on?  Why so long?

E-Swift:  Well, when “XO Experience” dropped you know Loud got bought out, almost the exact time that we dropped the LP.  So we had to get through all the red tape of getting out of the deal with Loud and then we signed with Artist Direct. But before our album even came out Artist Direct went under.  Now we are with Koch Records and everything has been smooth from there.  Koch was the best decision for us, it took time and we have been traveling and doing a lot of tours.

Exactly, as artists you make a lot more money from touring as opposed to album sales, correct?

E-Swift:  As an artist, yes, but as a producer I make my money if I stay at home and don’t go anywhere (laughs).  That’s for real; let it be told I can’t lie to you.

(Laughs)

The west coast has been damn near invisible the last couple of years on the music map, why do you think that is?

E-Swift:  I wouldn’t say we have been invisible, but definitely not in the Top 20.  Unless your Snoop or from Dre’s camp, it’s really hard.  I don’t know what the curse is.  Game is from Compton and you can’t get more LA than Compton.   Game really set a fire under and now everybody has to step it up and keep it going.   I feel we are there and we at the door knocking.  You’ve got us, Dilated Peoples coming out; Ice Cube is doing an album, so the west has a lot of stuff in the works.

Tash:  I can’t really describe it, but I can say this….when gangsta rap first came out it shocked people.  It really shocked people, and when you have NWA cussin on records and talking about police violence and what not.  But then when it blew up like it did and the rappers got older, started talking more positive it’s like the magic wore off for the public.  People are now looking at the west coast, like “what do you now?”  West Coast always had that stigma of violence and nobody knew what to do after that, nobody was being creative

You guys have never really followed that stereotype, you guys have never been the gangster rappers, and your music is fun hip-hop music.  The cats that were listening to Tribe were also listening to The Liks.

E-Swift:  Yep, exactly.

Tash:  Now all we hear is cats that we know are from the streets talking about the fake pimp shit, pimps with no hoe’s (laughs). You got cats talking like they are millionaires and such and that’s wearing off.  You can’t top the people that are actually out there living that life.  Not everybody is cut out to be a pimp or a hustler drug dealer so they need to migrate to what we are doing.  We tell rappers nowadays to go pick up some Liks albums, have fun with it while it’s here.

So you think the west is coming back around?  New York is in the same boat, they aren’t putting out hits either.

E-Swift:  I know your not picking on us, I’m right there with you.  I just feel its coming.  We got this cat named Bishop Lamont that’s real hot and he just signed to Aftermath, so we have some guns in the barrel and we about to let it fly.  It just takes a minute to get everybody on point.  The real difference will be if we all drop our about the same time, that’s how we can really make an impact.  Usually there are like 3 west coast albums a year that make any noise, so we just have to step it up and bring it back.

“Firewater” drops January 24th on Waxploitation/Koch records, you have had major deals in the past, why go with an independent now?

E-Swift:  It was really the best thing for us.  At this point we have millions of dollars already invested in our careers.  A lot of groups don’t have an opportunity like that.  It all came at the perfect time, we got to walk into a perfect situation and it all fell into place.

So this album has no label influence?

E-Swift: The label has no influence; we are veterans in this game.  They didn’t feel like they had to sit around and look over our shoulder.  All they told us was “get it done and let’s go to work” Honestly man, just to set the record straight.  Most artists that I know, the labels don’t dictate the records for them.  The artists come with ideas for collabos and producers and such but the labels aren’t sitting there watching their every move.  Those days are gone and that’s the producer’s job.

Swift….you did the majority of the production on this album and it does have a progressive sound, what equipment did you use in production?

E-Swift:  I used the basic stuff, my MPC and my ASR-10.   I had a lot of sounds that I had collected over the years and so I just went wild.  Can’t forget my Technic 1200′s either.

Other producers such as The Rural, Keezo Kane, Beatmecanix, Evidence also make a contribution, but one producer stood out….Dangermouse, what intrigued you about Dangermouse to bring him on board with this album?

E-Swift:  Basically we work in the same camp; we have the same manager and stuff.   Dangermouse and I have become really good friends.  He had this song that just sounded bananas, and he was like I want y’all to do a song over this.  He played and we just did it.

Tash:  I just liked his mouse costume (Laughs)

(Laughs)  Tash is like comic relief huh?

Tash:  This dude said I’m comic relief (Laughs)

E-Swift:  What’s up “Comic Relief” (Laughs)

Is this your best album to date?  What are each of your favorite tracks on the album?

E-Swift:  All our albums that we put out are our best albums, for real.  We say that every time we put out an album.  I’ll put it like this; it’s the perfect album for us to go out with.  This is an album, if you not a Liks fan and hear this album it will make you want to go buy “Likwidation” it will make you want to hear “Coast II Coast”

Tash:  I haven’t even heard it yet (laughs), send me my own shit (laughs)

E-Swift:  (To Tash) It comes out January 24th, go buy it (laughs) you recorded it, you know what it sounds like (laughs)

Tash:  For real though, every song that we did lives up to The Alkoholiks.  We just want to make good music.  It falls in perfect with what we do, from the rap style to keeping the beats funky.  It sounds like a good “Liks” album.

So what are your favorite tracks?

Tash:  I’m going to have to say “Handle It” that’s my favorite just because.

E-Swift:  I’ll tell you what my favorite is, it’s the joint with King T called “Over Here”

So you plan on working with T coming up?

Tash:  Till the end of time man.

E-Swift:  It’s been a long time coming, but he’s about to drop some shit.  You’re going to hear a lot more from him in a minute.

You guys have been in the game for over a decade, where do you see hip-hop going in the next 10 years?

Tash:  No telling for real, I never thought 10 years ago that hip-hop would be where it is now.  You never would have thought people would come out selling 7 million albums and what not.  Before that only Hammer was doing those kinds of numbers.  If we can take radio back and bring the fun back, it can be bigger than it is now.  It just takes the right artist to bring it to the forefront.  We need more Common’s, Kweli’s, Alkoholiks and MF Dooms on the radio.

Exactly I just heard they cancelled the “Fantastic Four “show, what’s up with that?

E-Swift:  Yeah man, they took them off the air on Friday.  I don’t know the science behind it but that’s a huge blow to underground rap music.

Tash:  That right there answers your question, taking show’s like that off the air sets hip-hop back instead of pushing it forward.

What’s on tap (pun intended) for The Liks?

Tash:  (Laughs)  He said pun intended..

E-Swift:  Right now Tash is working on his next album.

Tash:  I just got back from where J-Ro is at in Europe doing a bunch of tracks for my new shit that will be out shortly on Paladin Records.  I’m doing some movies, this joint that Sticky Fingaz wrote called “A Day in the Life” coming out Lion Gates films.  It supposed to have Paris Hilton in it and Samuel Jackson

E-Swift:  (Laughs)

Tash:  It’s supposed to, but you know….(laughs)

How about you Swift, any artists you want to work with?

E-Swift:  Rich ones….(laughs)  but for real, I would like to hook up with Nas this year.

Tash:  (Laughs) For real though Swift has a sound that nobody else has, so all you big name artists that read this interview call me at 213-…. (Laughs)  I’m his manager.

(Laughs)

E-Swift: (Laughs)

This was a real honor for me, I’m a big Liks fan and I wish you guys all the success and keep doing good hip-hop music.  Any last words?

E-Swift:  Yep….go buy the album January 24th and make us happy.

Tash:  Here’s my slogan, “don’t drink and drive, because you might spill your drink” (Laughs) Period.

Though Tash & J-Ro’s frat-boy exuberance still runs rampant, the groupÂ’s return is marked by a noticeable change in direction. With X.O. Experience, Tha Liks are hunting for the one thing that has previously eluded them, commercial success. In doing so, E-Swift revamps Tha Liks’ sound, eschewing there largely drunken-funk based upbringing, and leads the group into the now very fashionable computerized domain. While this flossy evolution will have its fair share of naysayers, E-Swift does an admirable job of fusing together, and delegating (Rockwilder , Neptunes , DJ Scratch , DJ Twinz ) palatable tracks that will appeal to a broader spectrum of fans, without completely alienating the group’s loyal underground contingency. The trio’s breakout lead-single “Best U Can” best exemplifies their new outlook. Thanks to The NeptunesÂ’ repetitive production, and Pharrel’s borderline corny hook, “Best U Can”, much like X.O. Experience manages to tow the fine line between jiggy, and underground. The underrated Swift turns in his best work on the rap-rock extravaganza “Promote Violins” featuring Kurupt, and the raucous, bassoon drenched “Goin’ Crazy”. Yet, Swift is not manning the boards for the true bangers here, as Tash & J-Ro’s party-favors mesh more favorably over Rockwilder’s vibrant electronic effects on “Run Wild”, and DJ ScratchÂ’s boombastic drum bursts on “Bully Foot” featuring the eternally amped Busta Rhymes, in classic dungeon dragon steeze.

Though the jubilant low-end production found throughout adds a fresh dimension to Tha Liks lyrical guzzling, Tash and J-Ro do not rip through their rhymes with the same ferociousness, or proclivity that accompanied earlier endeavors. However, their chemistry is bananas (no shortage of witty barbs), and both sound as hungry as ever on “Goin’ Crazy”, and “Bar Code” f/ Xzibit. Tha Liks unabashed attempts to finally breakthrough commercially does lead to a few missteps; “My Dear” featuring the once promising Defari is a misogynistic tryst that loops Pharcyde’s “PassinÂ’ Me By” hook about six-months after R&B crooner Joe raped it. Likewise, “Sickness” featuring Butch Cassidy , and the lazy “151″ featuring Xzibit, are nothing but filler material.

Yet, even with those shortcomings in mind. With X.O. Experience Tha Liks have accomplished their goal in crafting a party LP that any hip-hop fan can enjoy. However, similar to Redman , if you have heard one Liks LP, you have heard them all, it’s just up to you to decide which version of the crew you like best. As the redundancy of there tried-and-true formula is bound to leave a hangover – yet a hangover is a small sacrifice to pay for the all night bender that is X.O. Experience.

So you got your solo album coming on Loud. Why did you feel it necessary to do a solo project?

“Rap Life”  I didn’t feel it was a necessity, but when me and J-Ro first met, we were both solo artists. We then became a group and I never got a chance to do my own thing. It’s just a goal I set more for myself.

What kind of sound can we expect from the album?

It’s like a Tash sound, same Tash the rapper, over different beats you never heard me rap over before. East coast, west coast hip-hop. It’s got all kinds of different flavors, like a pack of Now and Laters.

Who is doing production?

E-Swift did three joints, Rocwilder, who does stuff with Redman and EPMD did two joints, Younglord from Bad Boy, Battlecat, Fred Wreck, a lot different producers.

Do you have anyone guest appearing on the album?

I got Outkast, B-Real , Xzibit, of course the Likwit Crew, Raekwon from Wu-Tang, J-Ro’s on a few joints.

Are their plans for a new Alkaholiks LP?

Yeah, we started working on it soon as we finished my album.

What do you think about when people say the west coast is falling off?

That’s their opinion and they are entitled that, but if they don’t feel my stuff, they don’t know what up It ain’t about where you at east or west, it’s just more about hip-hop.

How do you feel about the new east coast thug sound, and the southern bounce sound that is dominating right now?

I feel like music is here for all people to listen to. I don’t judge it by whether you are from the east or west. I don’t say “I can’t listen to Nore cause it’s is east coast thug shit” All that labeling doesn’t make sense to me. If you are a dope emcee, I listen to you. If you’re wack, I don’t fuck with it. As far as the South, I think it’s dope that young blacks in the south are getting a chance to express themselves.

What other outside projects are you working on?

I did a song with Rah Digga for the Beatminerz album on Rawkus…. I did a song for De La Soul for their album. I just did some stuff for Xzibit’s new album. I did song with Scritti Politti overseas…. I’ll work with anybody that I feel is dope…

Do you think that there will ever be a full length project from The Likwit Crew as a whole?

Yeah, we got a deal on the table right now for that. We want to put out ourselves, but we are still thinkin about it. Plus, Me, Xzibit, and Soopafly who used to do stuff with the Dogg Pound are starting a group. We’ve already recorded a few tracks, but we still don’t have a name yet…

What artists are the most influential to you?

Ice-T, who put the sound the west coast got on the map. I also have to give it up to Freeestyle Fellowship.

What emcees are you feeling right now?

Cappadonna from Wu-Tang, DMX, I like Outkast, Goodie Mob, Trick Daddy’s hard, Mack 10, Ice Cube….

What albums are you listening to now?

I’m bumpin’ the Whoiridaz, Brand Nubian, Kurupt, Gang Starr, Big Pun, Ghostface, and Mobb Deep.

Anything you would like to add?

Tash has been in the game for a minute. I need peeps to support me, like they support the other top notch emcees. This isn’t another Alkaholik album. As a solo artist I need ya’ll to support the new sounds.